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Internal Administration Circulars

Internal administration circulars (IACs)

Internal administration circulars (IACs) provide information for immigration staff on procedural and process issues. These are sent out as and when required. They are not part of the INZ Operational Manual.

IACs from 2013

  • Internal Administration Circular 13-04 PDF [110KB] Occupations requiring New Zealand registration by law in order to undertake employment in New Zealand.
  • Internal Administration Circular 13-03 PDF [100KB] Varying the conditions of temporary work visas.
  • Internal Administration Circular 13-01 PDF [101KB] Prioritisation of the 2012/2013 residence programme and general instructions.

IACs from 2012

  • Internal Administration Circular 12-07 PDF [102KB] On expiry of visas and becoming unlawful.
  • Internal Administration Circular 12-06 PDF [146KB] Electronic submissions of Visa applications in the Pacific.
  • Internal Administration Circular 12-05 PDF [108KB] Assessing skilled employment under the Skilled Migrant Category.
  • Internal Administration Circular 12-04 PDF [64KB] Outlines changes to Immigration Health Certificates medical referral guidelines.
  • Internal Administration Circular 12-03 PDF [79KB] Outlines changes to Immigration health screening.
  • Internal Administration Circular 12-02 PDF [74KB] Clarifies processes for Ministerial requests and directions.
  • Internal Administration Circular 12-01 PDF [46KB] Guidelines on the upgrade of passport readers.

IACs from 2011

  • Internal Administration Circular 11-01 PDF [164KB] Guidelines on the processing of interim visas.
  • Internal Administration Circular 11-02 PDF [46KB] Clarifying the procedures for processing applications under the Specific Purpose or Event work instructions for entertainers, performing artists and associated support personnel, film and video production and post-production crew, producers, and directors.
  • Internal Administration Circular 11-03 PDF [760KB] Guidelines for emailing letters to customers. 
  • Internal Administration Circular 11-04 PDF [44KB] Outlines acceptable identity documents under regulation 5. 
  • Internal Administration Circular 11-05 PDF [41KB] Advice on work undertaken by clerical staff of lawyers and licensed advisers.
  • Internal Administration Circular 11-06 PDF [74KB] Outlines changes to the Skilled Migrant Category immigration instructions from 25 July 2011. 
  • Internal Administration Circular 11-07 PDF [35KB] Guidelines on the complaints process to professional bodies.
  • Internal Administration Circular 11-08 PDF [35KB] Guidelines on the complaints process to the Immigration Advisers Authority.
  • Internal Administration Circular 11-09 PDF [62KB] Outlines changes in the approach to the decision-making process for offshore temporary visa applications and amendments to instructions E7.15.
  • Internal Administration Circular 11-10 PDF [65KB] Section 61 of the Immigration Act 2009 – “Grant of a visa in special case”.
  • Internal Administration Circular 11-11 PDF [190KB] Guidance to staff and managers on the processing of interim visas.

IACs from 2010

  • Internal Administration Circular 10-01 PDF [25KB] Guidelines for clients with alerts.
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-02 PDF [81KB] Offshore Adviser licensing.
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-03 PDF [40KB] Outlines changes made to the Medical and Chest X-ray Certificate.
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-04 PDF [54KB] Guidelines for standard AMS input.
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-05 PDF [62KB] Provides guidelines for best practice for letter writing and use of template letters.
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-06 PDF [161KB] Provides guidelines on discretionary and administrative fee waivers.
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-07 PDF [28KB] To remind staff of the timeframes for Privacy Act requests.
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-08 PDF [608KB] Updates to the guidelines of fee payments and refunds.
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-09 PDF [39KB] Confidentiality Provisions for Refugee Status Claimant.
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-10 PDF [38KB] Prioritisation of the 2010/2011 Residence Programme.
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-11 PDF [58KB] UNCROC further advice on granting unlawful school-age children Limited Purpose Permits (LPPs).
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-12 PDF [44KB] Eliminating cash: guidelines on acceptance of cash for fee payments.
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-13 PDF [223KB] Transitioning to the Immigration Act 2009.
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-14 PDF [39KB] Including Variation of Condition Fees in the Substantive Application.
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-15 PDF [102KB] Application Management System business continuity plan.
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-16 PDF [40KB] Health and character requirements for a military visa application.
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-17 PDF [45KB] Granting further travel conditions onshore from commencement of the Immigration Act 2009 on 29 November 2010.
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-18 PDF [90KB] Assessing the comparability of qualifications in terms of Note 1 of the Long Term Skills Shortage List.
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-19 PDF [56KB] Clarifying business processes necessary to meet quality requirements while still making timely assessments.
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-20 PDF [45KB] Clarifying what a labour market check (LMC) is, when it is required under Essential Skills work instructions, and how to request one using the online Labour Market Check Portal.
  • Internal Administration Circular 10-21 PDF [60KB] Providing information to all managers and staff in relation to section 61 (s.61) of the Immigration Act 2009 – “Grant of a visa in special case”.

IACs from 2009

  • Internal Administration Circular 09-01 PDF [34KB] Placing stamps in an applicant’s passport when an application is declined
  • Internal Administration Circular 09-02 PDF [87KB] Implementation of the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007
  • Internal Administration Circular 09-03 PDF [30KB] Kosovo passport acceptable for travel to New Zealand
  • Internal Administration Circular 09-04 PDF [74KB] Status of non-lawyer employees of law firms under the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007.
  • Internal Administration Circular 09-05 PDF [44KB] Effects of changes in the labour market on work policy.
  • Internal Administration Circular 09-06 PDF [45KB] Prioritisation of the 2009/2010 residence programme and general instructions.
  • Internal Administration Circular 09-07 PDF [38KB] Outlines the Client Complaint Resolution Process.
    • Attachment 1 to accompany IAC 09-07 PDF [87KB]
    • Attachment 2 to accompany IAC 09-07 PDF [49KB]
  • Internal Administration Circular 09-08 PDF [27KB] Clarifies and emphasises the EOI process.
  • Internal Administration Circular 09-09 PDF [98KB] Communicating with agents.
  • Internal Administration Circular 09-10 PDF [45KB] Changes relating to the cancellation of removal orders.
  • Internal Administration Circular 09-11 PDF [55KB] Guidance on the process of managing requests from the IAA.
  • Internal Administration Circular 09-12 PDF [43KB] Reminder to staff to record their involvement in the decision-making process on AMS.  

IACs from 2008

  • Internal Administration Circular 08-01 PDF [93KB] Skilled Migrant Category: 4 February 2008 changes to operational policy
  • Internal Administration Circular 08-02 PDF [96KB] United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Further advice on granting unlawful school-age children Limited Purpose Permits (LPPs)
  • Internal Administration Circular 08-03 PDF [96KB] Transitioning to Recognised Seasonal Employer (TRSE) – policy and process changes
  • Internal Administration Circular 08-04 PDF [27KB] New Zealand-based lawyers not requiring written authority to act
  • Internal Administration Circular 08-05 PDF [93KB] Implementation of the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act 2007
  • Internal Administration Circular 08-06 PDF [124KB] Section (s.)35A - Immigration Act 1987 
  • Internal Administration Circular 08-07 PDF [31KB] Refugee Family Support Category (RFSC) Residence Applications
  • Internal Administration Circular 08-08 PDF [629KB] Fees Review 2008 - Fee Changes
  • Internal Administration Circular 08-09 PDF [44KB] Student policy: visas and permits for the length of a course of study
  • Internal Administration Circular 08-10 PDF [45KB] Prioritisation 08-09 Residence Programme
  • Internal Administration Circular 08-11 PDF [31KB] Complaints to Professional Bodies
  • Internal Administration Circular 08-12 PDF [41KB] Labour Market Tests
  • Internal Administration Circular 08-13 PDF [113KB] Suspending/deleting AMS alerts when an individual is to be permitted entry to New Zealand
  • Internal Administration Circular 08-14 PDF [56KB] SQ and PAC special policies
  • Internal Administration Circular 08-15 PDF [45KB] Best practice guidelines for the handling of Privacy Act requests
  • Internal Administration Circular 08-16 PDF [41KB] Student policy: visas and permits for the length of a course of study.